Watch-protector.



No. 7|5,53o. Patented nec. 23, |902; s. F.,G|nnENs.

WATCH PROTECTOR.

(Appuwion mad rob. 21, 1902.)

(lo Modal.)

UNITED STATES ATENT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GIDDENS, OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DUDLEY BROWN RYLAND, OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA.

WATCH-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7I6,530, dated December 23, 1902.

Application led February 21. 1902. Serial No. 95,094. (No model.)

To all whom, it 17mg/ concern,.-

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GIDDENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynchburg, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Watch-Protector, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a protective carrying-ring for Watches, and is xo intended principallyfor the purpose of lessening the jolting and jarring to which watches are frequently subjected, particularly by railroad men in the exercise of their duties, and to reduce to a minimum the danger of injury to the mechanism arising from such' jolting and jarring.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described,

en illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure lis a sectional elevation of a protective carrying-ring constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating a watch in position therein. Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the carryingring in a partly open position. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the protector, illustrating a slightly-modified construction. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detailed perspective views of dierent forms of holding-clasps which may be employed for supporting the Watch in position.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The Watch-protector is in the form of an open ring, grooved or of trough shape in cross- 4o section and comprising two jointed members l and 2, one of which carries a spring-catch 3 for engagement with a projecting tongue carried by the mating member. The hinge or pivot point may be so arranged asto provide sections of equal length, as shown, or one section may be longer than the other, or the number of sections may be increased, if desired. The free ends of the members are recessed, as indicated, for the reception of the stem 5o of the Watch, the stem extending out beyond the ring so that the mechanism may be Wound or set Without removing the watch from the ring. Each member of the ring is troughlike in cross-section and carries a spring 5,

-the springs employed being preferably of the leaf type and secured at an intermediate point to the protective casing. At each end of the spring is secured a clasp 6, which is shaped to conform to the contour of the rim of the watchcase, so that lateral movement 6o of the watch may be prevented, although this may be provided against by making the protective ring of such width as to prevent this lateral play. The clasps 6 are arranged at such distances from the protective ring as to allow some play parallel with the plane of the watch before actually coming into contact therewith, and the springs possess sufficient strength to support the weight of the watch and at the saine time are elastic and yield 7o freely as the Watch is moved from jarring or jolting or in the case of the watch falling to the ground.

The protective ring may be formed of any suitable metal and in any desired manner; but generally the ring is formed of strong and cheap sheet metal which may be readily stamped into shape and sold at a low cost.

The springs employed may be of any desired shape and size and any number may 8o be used and distributed at different points inside the ring. In Fig. 3 I have shown a number of 4compression springs carrying a small rim or ring in which the watch may be had, so that the weight of the watch and the movement imparted thereto byjarring or jolting may be distributed over a number of springs. The clasps 6 may be formed integral with the springs, as shown in Fig. 4c, or may be made of separate pieces of metal or 9o'l other material and lined with chamois or some similar soft material for contact with the watchcase, as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig.

6 is illustrated a further modification illustrating a clasp pivotally connected to the end of the leaf-spring, so that the clasp may turn freely to accommodate itself to the contour of the Watch-casing.

The protector is preferably ring-like in form, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2; but in 10o some cases it may be so formed as to protect and cover the back of the watch, as illnstrated in Fig. 3.

Vhile the construction herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that various changes inthe form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A watch-protector comprising a casing in the form of a hollow ring open to expose the dial of the watch, said casing being formed of a pair of hinged sections, a securing-clasp for holding the sections together, a leaf-spring secured intermediately of its length to each of said sections, and clasps disposed at the ends of each spring for engaging and holding the perimeter of the watchcase.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GIDDENS.

Witnesses:

A'. S. HESTER, FRED. HARPER. 

